Scale



oct.' 23, 1923. 1,471,518

{- o. M. KIRITIN scm: Y Filed March 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23 1923.

o. M. KIRLIN SCALE Filed March 13 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nidda am W wwf-Sr@ Patented Oct. 23, '1923.

UNITED STATES OTIS M. KIRLIN, F WATERTO'WN, SOTH DAKOTA.

SCALE.

Application led Marchr 13, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, Oris M. KTRLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Codington and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Scales; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

4My present invention relates to limprovements in scales and, more particularly, to scales of the type disclosed and claimed in f my two ll. S. Letters Patents, 1,184,103 issued May 23, 1916 and 1,282,859 issued October 29, 1918, and has for its object to improve the same in the several particulars hereinafter noted.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accon'ipanying drawings, which illusty-ate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an improved scale;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly. in central vertical section taken on the line 2 2 0f Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary frontelevation with some parts sectioned on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in diagram with a portion of the casing sectioned in the vicinitv of the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

45 Fig. 7 is a detail View principally in section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view in diagram showing the lamp circuit.

The numeral 10 indicates a hollow base over a portion of which is located a scale platform 11 supported on a lever 12 in the customary or any suitable manner. A casing 13 is supported on the base 10 at one side of the platform 11 and is provided with a face plate 14 and a back plate 15.

Serial No. 543,204.

Formed in the face plate 14 is a perpendicular slot which affords a sight opening 16 and which sight opening, at its upper extremity, is widened to increase the field of said opening.

A tare or main beam 17 has intermediately secured thereto a knife bearing 18 which projects from opposite sides thereof and is fulcrumed in apertures in the prongsY of a depending bearing 19 secured to the casing 13. The short or left-hand portion of the tare beam 17 is connected to the lever 12 by a long link 20 which works through an aperture in the top of the base 10. A sliding poise 21 is mounted on the long end portion of the tare beam 17 and its extreme movements on said beam are lim` ited by stops 22 and 23. Formed in the upper edge of the tare beam 17 are a plurality of, as shown three, transverse V- shaped notches 24, any one of which may be engaged by a: correspondingly formed detent 25 on thc poise 21. When the poise 21 is in engagement with the stop 22, said poise is at zero and its detent 25 is in engagement with the left-hand notch 24. The other two notches 24 are spaced and indicate 2() and 40 pounds, respectively. When the poise 21 is moved t0 its extreme righthand position, the detent 25 is in engagement with the stop 23 and increases the weighing capacity of the scale to pounds.

To shift the poise 21 on the tare beam 17, there is provided an operating lever 26 which underlies said beam in the plane.-

thereof, and extends through an intermediate slot 27 in the poise 21 for the tare beam 17. The operating lever 26 is intermediately fulcrumed at 28 to the poise 21, and its left-hand or short end is provided with an upwardly projecting detent 29 arranged to enter any one of the plurality of lock notches 30 formed in the lower edge of the tare beam 17 and longitudinally spaced the same distance apart as the notches 24.

The long or right-hand end of the operating lever 26 extends throughv a vertical slot 31 in the casing 18 and terminates in a ball-like hand-piece 32. The initial lifting pivotal movement of the hand-piece 32 will disengage the detent 29 from the lock notch 230 with which it is interloeked and a further upward movement of the hand-piece 32 will cause the operating lever 26 to enllt) the lower end of the slot 27, as a stop i still further lifting movement of the hand piece will cause the operating lever 26 and the poise 21 t0 move together and thereby roel; said poise on the tare beam 17 and lift its detent S out of the engaged notch lllhile the poise 21 is thus held by the operating lever 26, the same may be shifted by a sliding movement to any desired point on the tare beam 17 by an endyvise movement of the operating lever 26. 31s soon as the hand-piece 32 is released, the detent 25 vvill enter the notch 24 over which it is positioned, and the detent 29 -lvill enter the overlying notch 30. Marked on the operating lever 26 are the numerals 20, si() and 60, spaced the same distance apart as the notches 24 and 30, and as. the operating lever 26 is moved end- Wise out of the slot 31, to shift the poise 21 and thereby increase the Weighing capacity of the scale 2G, 110 or GO pounds, said numerals will successively appear and thus permit the operator to properly position the poise 21 on the tare beam 17 and permit the detent to enter any one of the notches t is, of course, understood that the notches 24.-. may be spaced to vary the Weighing capacity any desired number of pounds. Secured to the tare beam 17 for common oscillatory movement therewith, is an auxiliary scale beam B/-l which vvorlrs outside of the casing 13 and is graduated from zero to 10 to indicate pounds and fractions thereof. Slidably mounted on the beam 34e is a poisc 35 having a thumb screw 36 for engagement with said beam to hold the poise ivhere set and the extreme sliding movement of the poise 35 on the beam 84 is limited by stops 37. At the zero end of the beam Bil is a screw-threaded stem 3S on which is mounted a lrnurled Weight 39 for balancing the scale. is one means of securing lthe beam 34; to the beam 17, there is rigidly secured to the inner face of said beam 3d a laterally pro- `iecting stud l0 rigidly secured by a set screiv a2 to an offset bracket rigidly se cured to the tare beam 17. The stud Llll is axially aligned ivith the knife bearing 18, and extended through an aperture 41 in the casing 13.

vExtending axially through the face plate 1% is a horizontal dial shaft 44 loosely journaled on the peripheiies of pairs of overlapping bearing Wheels 45. he dial shaft is further journaled on set screvvs 4:6 which have conical engagement therewith. E1n indicator diall L17 is mounted on the dial shaft dei for rotation therewith Within the casing 13 close to the face plate 1-1. This indicator dial /17 is graduated to indicate pounds and fractions thereof and value amounts in substantially the same arrangement as in my patent issued May 23, 1916 heretofore identified. The Weighing grad uations are visible through the expanded portions of the sight opening 1G.

ln actual construction, the sight openingr 16 will be covered by a transparent panel, and a hair line, preferably colored, yvill be extended through the vertical center of this panel and with which the Zero point of the dial 47 registers 'when in normal position. On the vertical edge portions of the face plate 1st., at the sight opening 16, are indicated, prices in cents per pound. 'lhc Weight graduations and computed amounts upon the rotatingl dial 17 are visible through the sight opening 1G and are to he read on the hair line, and said eo `puted iounts coincide iv the )rice anfounts marked on the face plate ll ou cher side of said opening.

The shaft L14, and hence the dial -l-l. is oscillated by the lever 12 by a pair of ilexible connections.v shown, in the form of steel tapes 4S, the inner ends ot which are reversely Wound upon a drum '19 and se cured thereto. rlhis drum 1:9 is l-reycd to the shaft #lll for rotation therewith. The outer ends of the tapes a8 t le extended vertically in opposite direi'tions and secured to a vertically extended har 5l.) located at To vary the ienone side of the drum 19. sion of the apes 4:8. the upper one connected to the bar 5'() by an adjustable block 51.

To the loiver cud of the bar 50 is rigidly secured a horizontal cross head from the ends of which is suspended a pair of depending linlrs 53 which Werl; through apertures in the top of the hase 10 aud support a horizontal cross head 5 to the intermediate portion of which is pivoted the lever 12.

To give a steady action to the movable arts of the scale and to eliminate vi of the dial there is provided ay re device comprising a cylindrical l. 55 partly filled with liquid .2 preferably mercury`r which normally bears upon i irface, a float 56 having a stein 57 secure( to the under side of the cross head This receptacle is suspended from tue casingr lil by an annular bracket through which said receptacle entends and is supported thereon by an annular bead or flange 50 formed vvith said reciuitacle. lt is highly importa-nt to note that the support for the receptacle 55 is located substantially at the normal surface of the liquid 'when the scale dial 4-7 is at Zero. rl"he purpose of thus mounting the receptacle 55 is that any change of temperature which tends to lengthen or shorten the receptacle and the liquid column .vill not change the normal level of the surface of the liquid relative to the scale body. l

It vvill be noted that the tloat 56 is in the form of a vertically disposed tube having il t) lll? f scale beam l2 the float 56 will be forced into l the liquid e and to restrict the rate of moveyment of the liquid e, displaced by the fioat 56, there is formed 'on the inner wall of the receptacle 55, an annular flange 60 located substantially at the normal surface of the liquid a. Obviously, this flange 60 forms a restricted passageway through which the float 56 moves vertically and the displaced liquid z is forced upward through this restricted passageway. To prevent the liquid e from spilling out of the receptacle 55, in case the scale is turned onto its side, I provide a cover 61 for said receptacle with a dcpending contracted sleeve 62 through which the ioat stem 57 works. The term float is `herein used in a broad sense to cover a plunger orthe like.

To slightly varyy the altitude of the liquid e of the receptacle 55, there is mounted in the rear wall of said receptacle, below the flange 60, a relatively large screw plug 63 adapted to be projected into or withdrawn from the liquid a and thereby raisey or lower the level thereof, as the case may be. This screw plug 63 may be turned by a screw driver inserted through an aperture in the rear wall of the casing 13.

To dampen or check the too rapid movement or oscillation of the dial 47, there is provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets 65 secured to the casing 13 and between the poles of which said dial is free to rotate without coming into contact therewith. The dial47 is preferably made of aluminum and the permanent magnets 65 have no effect thereupon, other than that the rotation thereof is retarded by the resistance of the permanent magnets to the movement of the metallic dial between their poles and which resistance increases with the increased speed of the movement of the dial 47.

Referring now to Fig. 8 of the drawings there is diametrically illustrated means for automatically illuminating the scale during the weighing action, and which means includes a normally open circuit comprising a battery 66, lead wires 67, a light bulb 68 and the liquid s. The two leading wires 67 are attached, the one to a lower terminal 69 and the other to an upper terminal 70. These terminals are secured to the receptacle 55 and extend` into the interior thereof, but

are insulated therefrom. The lower terminal 69 is located near the bottom of the receptacle 55 and its inner end is always in the liquid a. The other or upper terminal 70 is located above the rib 60 and, when the scale is at zero, the level of the liquid e is below the same. During the initial weighing action of the scale, the liquid e, which as previously stated is'mercury, is displaced by the float 56 and as the same rises in the receptacle 55, comes in cont-act with the contact 70 and thereby completes the circuit between the lead wires 67. The light bulb 68 may be located at any desired point on the scale and it is not thought necessary to villustrate the same other than as shown in Fig. 8.

As soon as the weight on the scale is removed, the liquid .e will recede, during the lifting movement of the float 56, and break the circuit between the contacts 69 and 70.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a scale casing, of a main scale beam in the casing fulcrumcd for oscillatory movement, an auxiliary scale beam outside of the casing and secured for commonoscillatory movement with the main scale beam, a poise on each of said scale beams, and means for operating the poise on the main scale beam.

2. The combination with a scale casing, of a main scale beam in the casing fulcrumed for oscillatory movement, an auxiliary scale beam outside of the casing, means connecting the auxiliary scale beam to the main scale beam for common oscillatory movement therewith, said means being extended through the casing substantially at the axis of the fulcrum for the main scale beam, a poise on each of the scale beams, and means for operating the poise on the main scale beam. A

3. The structure defined in claim l in further combination with means for moving the poise on the main scale beam from the outside of the easing.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the means for moving the poise on the main scale beam is provided with characters indicating the position of the poise on the main scale beam.

5. The structure defined in claim l in further combination with a balancing device on the auxiliary scale beam.

6. The combination with a scale beam, of a poise on the scale beam and having interlocking engagement therewith at predetermined points, and means for sliding the poise on the scale beam, said means being arranged to interlock with the scale beam at predetermined points.

7. The combination with a scale beam har'- ing lock notches, of a sliding poise on the scale beam and having interlocking engageyment therewith at predetermined points, of

f to enter the loclr an operating lever intermediately pivoted to the poise and having a detent arranged to enter the loclr notches into the scale beam.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the operating lever is arranged to move under the action ot gravity to engage its detent with the lock notches in the scale beam.

9. The combination with a casing, ot' a scale beam mounted in the casing and hav.- ing lock notches, aslidingvpoise on the scale beam, ot' an operating lever tor the poise arranged to tvorlr in an aperture in the casing, said operating lever having a detent arranged to enter the lock notches ot the scale beam and also having identifying characters for indicating the position ot the poise on the scale beam.

10. The combination with a casing. ot scale beam mounted in the casing and having lock notches7 a slidingpoise on the scale beam, ot an operating lever tor the poise arranged to vvorlr in an aperture in the ca.oing, and a detent tor co-operation ivith the lock notches to position the poise on the scale beam, said operating lever having identity .ing characters t'or indicating the position ot the poise on the scale beam.

1l. The combination with a scale beam having tivo sets et lock notches. a sliding poise on the scale having a detcnt arranged to enter the lool: notches ot one set, and an operating lever intermediatcly pivoted to the poise and having a loci: detent arranged notches of the other set.

l2. The structure defii ed in claim '11 in which the operating lever ma)v be moved to disengage the detent on the slidingpoise trom the respective lool: notch When its detent is disengaged tor the respect-ive lool: notch.

13. The structure defined in claim 1l in Which the operating lever may be nioved to carrv said detente ont ot the engaged loch notches to permit the sliding movement ot the poise on the scale beam.

14s. rlhe structure defined in claim 1l in which the pivotal movement ot' the operating lever is limited whereby the poise mav be lifted to disengage its detent trom the engaged lock notch.

l5. The combination ivith a movabie scale indicator. ot a retarding device tor the indicator comprising` a liquid containing re.- ceptacle7 a float. and a scale-actuated con nection tor forcing the tloat variablvY into the liquid under the Weighing movement ot the scale. said connection being attached to the fioat substantially at the normal level ot' the liquid.

16. The combination with a. movable scale indicator, ot a retarding device for the indicator comprising a liquid containing receptacle, a tubular float having a closed bottom, and a scale-actuated stem attached to the loiver end ot the float for forcing the fioat variably into the liquid under the Weighing movement of the scale.

1T. The combination with a movable scale indicator, of a retarding device for the indicator comprising a liquid containing re ceptacle, a tubular float having a closed bottom, and aI scale-actiuited stem extending into the float and attached to the lower end of the float tor 'forcing the. float variablv into the liquid um er the Weighing movement ot the scale.

18. The con'ibination with a movable scale indicator, et a retarding device tor the indicator comprising a suspended liquid containing receptacle, a tloat arranged to be Jforced variablv into the liquid under the Weighing movementI ot the scale. said receptacle being supported substantially at the normal level of the liquid in its suspended position.

19. The combination with a movable scale indicator. ot a retarding device t'or the indicator comprising a suspended liquid containing receptacle, a float arranged to be forced variablv into the liquid under the Weighing movement of the scale, said con nection being attached to the fioat at substantially the normal level. ot the liquid, said receptacle being supported substantially at the normal level ot the liquid in the receptacle in its suspended position.

i210. The combination with a movable scale indicator. ot a retarding device tor the indicator comprising a liquid containing receptacle, a fioat arranged to be forced variably into the liquid under the Weighing movement ot the scale. and a bracket, at substantiallv the normal level oit the liquid, on which the receptacle is supported in an elevated position.

2l. The combination with a movable scale indicator, of a retarding device for the indicator comprising a liquid containing receptacle, a float arranged to be torced variablyv into the liquid under the weighing movement ot the scale, and a bracket, said receptacle having a shoulder'. at substantially the normal level ot' the liquid. for engagement with the bracket to support the receptacle in an elevated position.

Q2. The combination with a movable scale indicator. ot a retarding device for the indicator comprising a liquid containing receptacle, a float arranged to be forced variably into the liquid under the weighing movement ot the scale. a normally opened battery circuit including a light bulb and tivo terminals and means for making and breaking the circuit betvveen said terminals by the movement of? the fioat into the liquid under the Weighing action of the scale to switch on and ott the light bulb.

23. The combination with a movable scale indicator, of a retarding device for the indicator comprising a liquid containing receptacle, a float arranged to be forced variably into the liquid under the weighing movement of the scale, and a normally opened battery circuit including a light bulb, two terminals and the liquid in the receptacle, one ot' said terminals always being in said liquid and the other being above the normal level of the liquid but arranged to be engaged by the liquid when displaced by the float during the weighing movement of the scale to switch on and olf the light bulb.

24. The combination with an oscillating metallic circular scale indicator, of a permanent magnet located at the circumference of 15 said indicator, said indicator being arranged to oscillate between the poles of the perma` nent magnet.

The combination with an oscillating metallic circular scale indicator, of a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets located at the circumference of said indicator, said indicator being arranged to oscillate between the poles of the magnets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

OTIS M. KIRLIN. 

